A Korean research team, led by Dr. Sung-Hoon Jung and Seung-Hoon Lee of the Department of Nano-Bio Convergence at the Korea Institute of Materials Science(KIMS), succeeded in developing a COVID-19 antiviral mask coated with thin films of copper nanoparticles, which was enabled by applying ion beam technology. KIMS is a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT.

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The team solved the toxicity problem of copper nanoparticles by attaching a copper nano-thin film firmly without damaging the polypropylene filter of the KF94 mask. Existing mask and filter products use polymer fibers containing copper nanoparticles. People may inhale copper particles that can be easily separated from the fiber surface. It may cause harmful effects to humans.

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The research team treated the polypropylene filter fiber with an ion beam and deposited a 20-nanometer copper thin film by vacuum evaporation. The surface modification layer created by the ion beam process prevents the detachment of the thin film of copper nanoparticles, which prevents the copper nanoparticles from infiltrating the respiratory system that may cause side effects.

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As the KF94 mask applied the new technology has no damage to the filter fibers, the particle collection efficiency was similar to that of the existing KF94 mask. In addition, when contacting the surface of the mask with the actual COVID-19 virus(SARS-CoV-2) for 1 hour, more than 99.9% was inactivated.

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Dr. Seung-Hoon Lee, the principal researcher, said, "It is important to develop various quarantine materials, but there is a lack of empirical research using highly pathogenic viruses,"  "It is urgent to standardize K-quarantine materials and parts through establishing the infrastructure and a certification system." he added.

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